The reactions of [M(dppe)(2)] (M = Pd, Pt) with elemental selenium or tellurium: preparation and structure of the platinum polyselenide [PtSe4(dppe)]

Reaction of [Pt(dppe)(2)] (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) with el emental selenium in toluene under reflux, or of [PtCl2(dppe)] with lithium polyselenide in tetrahydrofuran, leads in good yield to the complex [PtSe4( dppe)] whose structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Reacti on of [Pt(dppe)(2)] with elemental tellurium, followed by treatment with di chloromethane, leads to isolation of the salt [Pt-3(mu(3)-Te)(2)(dppe)(3)] Cl-2. [Pd(dppe)(2)] reacts with elemental selenium to give [Pd-2(mu-Se)(2)( dppe)(2)] or [Pd-3(mu(3)-Se)(2)(dppe)(3)] Cl-2, depending on the conditions . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved.